Councilmembers present: Alan Kiest, Carolyn Armanini, Dwight Thompson, Mary Jane Goss, Nate Herzog, Roger Olstad, Ed Sterner

Staff present: David R. Hutchinson, Mayor; Douglas Jacobson, City Administrator; Dennis Peterson, Chief of Police; Sarah Phillips, Government and Community Affairs Manager; John Hawley, Finance Director; Susan Stine, City Clerk

Others present: Eight visitors

Mayor Hutchinson called the study session meeting to order at 7:34 p.m.

Mayor Hutchinson requested the addition of Mayor’s Report to the agenda and noted the deletion of Item 5--Sewering Unsewered Areas, and Item 6--Jail Services/Proposed New Agreement with Yakima County and City of Renton. City Administrator Jacobson said that Item 5 has been removed from the agenda because the director of public services is on vacation. He also noted that there is nothing new to report on Item 6--Jail Services.

Cmbr. Olstad requested the addition of Council Reports. Council members also requested an executive session of approximately 10 minutes to discuss real estate acquisition.

Cmbr. Thompson moved adoption of the agenda as amended. Cmbr. Armanini seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Anna Schumacher expressed her interest in serving on the Environmental Quality Commission and discussed her educational background.

In response to a question from Thompson, Schumacher said she views service on the commission as a combination of community building and promoting the protection of the environment.

Liane Newman discussed her active involvement in environmental matters affecting the community since annexation to Lake Forest Park and noted the Native American philosophy regarding the environment.

Cmbr. Olstad expressed his interest in revitalizing the heritage tree program and in researching the Tree City designation.

Erik Peterson discussed his employment background and interests. He is a volunteer with Crime Watch and is interested in finding ways of getting acquainted and involved with the community.

Commission nominees were informed that final confirmation would be scheduled for April 25, 2002.

Hutchinson reported on the commission chairs meeting, the Gateway neighborhood meeting regarding affordable senior housing, the selection of Jeff Weissman as the Elks citizen of the year, and his attendance at the Suburban Cities Association meeting with Cmbr. Kiest and City Administrator Jacobson.

King County Wastewater Treatment Division staff--Major Capital Improvement Program Manager Christie True, Conveyance Program Manager Gunars Sreibers and Project Manager Bob Peterson were introduced to the council.

True provided a status report on various northend wastewater projects.

Sreibers discussed the Brightwater project timeline and noted that Executive Sims and the County Council have instructed them to proceed with the environmental review process. He discussed aspects of the Edmonds Unocal candidate site and the Route 9 candidate site and the impact on Lake Forest Park with either site.

Cmbr. Armanini requested a more detailed version of the proposed conveyance options affecting Lake Forest Park.

True discussed the county’s experience with tunneling projects and the limited impacts of deep tunneling for residents.

A five-minute recess was called for at 8:55 p.m.

The meeting was resumed at 9:04 p.m.

Cmbr. Herzog said his intention is to bring the council up to date on his research in the area of amendments to the city’s gambling regulations. He noted that the City of Kenmore had commissioned a public attitude survey, and he provided highlights of the survey.

Herzog noted questions related to the city’s ability to control gambling through zoning. He stated that this might require requesting an opinion of the state’s attorney general.

Cmbr. Olstad said it would be important to know if the city would have complete control of gambling through zoning. Armanini noted that the state could make changes through legislation regardless of the council’s intent.

Herzog stated that he believes that it would be beneficial to survey the city’s residents.

Armanini noted that proposals for broadly expanding gambling are being advanced for the next state legislative session.

Thompson said that any action regarding a survey should require the sanction of the council and noted that he had some concerns regarding the language of the Kenmore survey.

Hutchinson noted that he is not intending any action on this issue based on the council’s previous 6-1 vote.

Jacobson noted the April 5 leadership team retreat discussion of potential 2003 budget cuts. Jacobson said that options involving library support, DUI bookings, land use permit fees and a budget transfer from the capital improvement fund to the general fund could be considered.

Armanini commented on the proposed options relating to DUI bookings and library support.

Finance Director John Hawley reviewed the city’s changing needs following Governor Locke’s approval of the 2003 budget which included funding for small cities.

Council members agreed that the focus of the proposed public workshops should be to provide an opportunity for citizens to learn about the budget and should be an educational process.

Council members reviewed and provided comments on a presentation by Hawley of potential workshop information.

Jacobson said that the finance director will provide information regarding city hall financing at the April 25, 2002 council meeting.

Kiest commented on the April 17, 2002 Suburban Cities Association letter to Metropolitan King County Council member Julia Patterson and discussed the work of the regional policy committee on regional finance.

Olstad provided an update of preservation projects funded by Water Resources Inventory Area (WRIA 8). He also noted the May 4 Baker for a Day event to benefit Third Place Commons.

Armanini reported on the informational meeting for the organics pilot program. She noted that the land bank task force would be on hiatus while the school superintendent develops a specific plan for an educational anchor for the Aldercrest site in response to direction from the school board. She said that the YMCA has signed a letter of intent for a property near 185^th and Aurora in Shoreline.

Community and Government Affairs Manager Sarah Phillips discussed the proposed change to the scheduled start-up of the organics pilot program.

Council members discussed plans for the April 27 council retreat. Thompson suggested that one hour be allotted for the council discussion of its work plan and recommended a council term format rather than an annual work plan format. He also suggested that three hours be allotted to discussion of the budget process and visioning.

Kiest will present a video regarding working relationships at the beginning of the retreat.

The retreat will be held in the Forest Room at City Hall on Saturday, April 27, 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

At 10:43 p.m., Olstad moved to advance the agenda to the executive session for a discussion of real estate acquisition for approximately 10 minutes. Armanini seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

A three-minute recess was called for at 10:45 p.m. Those not required to remain for the executive session exited the chambers at this time.

The meeting was resumed at 10:47 p.m.

At 10:48 p.m., the meeting was recessed to executive session for approximately 10 minutes for discussion of real estate acquisition.

The meeting was resumed at 10:51 p.m.

There being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 10:52 p.m.

Susan Stine, City Clerk

APPROVED:

David R. Hutchinson, Mayor

|Return to the City Council Minutes page |
|Home|  |City|  |Community|  |Kiosk|  |Search|  |News|  |About This Site|